Episode summary:

In this second episode of Language Law and Order, hosts Linda Pillière, Ingrid Tieken, and Morana Lukač are joined by special guests Joan Beal and Robin Straaijer—two prominent scholars in the field of prescriptivism and co-editors of the Routledge Handbook of Linguistic Prescriptivism (2023), alongside Morana. Together, they delve into the motivations, challenges, and breakthroughs behind the creation of this landmark volume. The discussion spans the evolving status of prescriptivism in linguistics, cross-cultural perspectives, and the social implications of language norms in education, publishing, and beyond.

Episode highlights:

• The origins of the Handbook: Joan, Robin, and Morana share how the idea for the Handbook emerged from decades of academic collaboration and the growing recognition of prescriptivism as a legitimate field of study.
• Prescriptivism's place in linguistics: Joan discusses how prescriptivism has long been dismissed within mainstream linguistics, and why that needs to change.
• Innovative research methods: The episode highlights new methodologies, including experimental work on accent bias in legal recruitment and how unconscious bias training can shift perspectives.
• Prescriptivism across social contexts: Robin explores how prescriptivism manifests in media, education, and copy editing—emphasizing the ideological tensions that often go unnoticed.
• Global perspectives on prescriptivism: Morana introduces insights from around the world—from Arabic and Hebrew to African and minority European languages—revealing how prescriptive norms are shaped by politics, history, and identity.

Linguistics fun fact:

The term "verbal hygiene", coined by linguist Deborah Cameron, refers to society's impulse to "clean up" language—whether through grammar rules, political correctness, or prescriptive norms. It highlights how language regulation often says more about social anxieties than about correctness.

Looking ahead:

In the next episode, the team welcomes Eline Lismont and Rik Vosters from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel to discuss how prescriptive norms succeed (or fail) in standardizing language historically, with a focus on Dutch.

Links and resources mentioned:

• Routledge Handbook of Linguistic Prescriptivism (2023)
• Accent Bias Britain Project
• HUGE Database
• Bridging the Unbridgeable Project